The Owensboro-Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau has been recruiting college athletes for positions in the organization.
And Mark Calitri, CVB president, said the program is working well.
He calls it “turning college athletes into community leaders and keeping young talent here.”
Calitri said the CVB is “finding success by intentionally hiring and developing college student-athletes through partnerships with local colleges.”
He said, “The long-term goal is to recruit young people to Owensboro, help them grow through education and real work experience, and encourage them to stay, build careers and build families in the community.”
The first three student athletes hired are Daylin Tolgo, destination marketing and services director; Lucas Daunhauer, sports destination sales & development director; and Addy Harris, social media and marketing intern.
Tolgo, a Huntsville, Alabama, native, came to Kentucky Wesleyan College on a bowling scholarship and competed as a collegiate athlete.
She worked at the CVB as an intern and graduated last year with a degree in communications.
Calitri said, “She was given real responsibility and real expectations. She did what was asked of her. Then she did more. She exceeded at a high level. She showed creativity. She took ownership. She followed through. She earned trust, and that internship turned into a full-time position.”
He said, “Daylin represents how student-athletes can turn opportunity into a career and choose to stay in Owensboro.”
Daunhauer, an Evansville native, graduated from KWC in 2021 with a degree in sports management and went on to Syracuse University, graduating in 2022 with a master’s degree in entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises.
While at Syracuse, he was part of the men’s soccer team that won the NCAA national championship.
After college, Daunhauer played professional soccer in Europe for two years.
At the CVB, he works in sports destination sales and development.
Calitri said, “Lucas represents how elite athletic experience translates into workplace leadership and performance.”
Harris is still a collegiate softball player at Brescia University.
Calitri said, “As a student-athlete, she manages a demanding schedule while gaining real-world experience locally. She brings strong time-management, teamwork and accountability into her work. Addy represents the next generation of young professionals developing in Owensboro.”
Calitri said his own experience in college athletics shaped how he builds his team today.
“When I played college basketball, I learned about hustle, effort and getting results.,” he said. “I learned what it means to compete at a high level every day. That’s why I believe in hiring athletes. They already understand what it takes to perform.”
Calitri said, “Our goal is to help young people build careers and lives here. When they stay and invest in this community, Owensboro wins.”
Dave Kirk, former CVB destination management director and now president of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, said, “Our local colleges serve as some of the strongest talent recruitment tools we have in Greater Owensboro. It’s vital that we continue to seek out our local graduates and connect degrees with careers.”
Dr. James Cousins, KWC president, said, “Our student athletes benefit from the academic rigor Kentucky Wesleyan is known for, but also live into additional expectations from coaches, peers and from a competitive environment that asks them to raise their standards, deliver under pressure and sacrifice for their team’s success.”
Jason Vittone, vice president for intercollegiate athletics at KWC, said, “The discipline, accountability and commitment our student-athlete develop help shape who they are in the classroom, in the workforce and in their community. Being a college student-athlete truly prepares them for their professional experience.”
He said, “They learn how to manage their time, work as a team, overcome adversity and perform under pressure. These are skills that every employer is looking for. Winning and losing is a natural part of athletics, but the real value comes in the lessons you learn along the journey. Those qualities stay with them long after their playing days are over.”
Keith Lawrence Messenger-Inquirer